BankMeridian, N.A., Columbia, South Carolina, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with SCBT, National Association, Orangeburg, South Carolina, to assume all of the deposits of BankMeridian, N.A.

The three branches of BankMeridian, N.A. will reopen on Monday as branches of SCBT, National Association. Depositors of BankMeridian, N.A. will automatically become depositors of SCBT, National Association. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of BankMeridian, N.A. should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from SCBT, National Association that it has completed systems changes to allow other SCBT, National Association branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of BankMeridian, N.A. can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of March 31, 2011, BankMeridian, N.A. had approximately $239.8 million in total assets and $215.5 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, SCBT, National Association agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and SCBT, National Association entered into a loss-share transaction on $179.0 million of BankMeridian, N.A.'s assets. SCBT, National Association will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-883-4390. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/bankmeridian.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $65.4 million. Compared to other alternatives, SCBT, National Association's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. BankMeridian, N.A. is the 60th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the third in South Carolina. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Atlantic Bank and Trust, Charleston, on June 3, 2011.

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Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's 7,575 banks and savings associations and it promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars – insured financial institutions fund its operations.

FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically (go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-127-2011